Published: October 26, 2009 11:42 pm      

Youth center escapees captured after high-speed chase

GRANTSVILLE — Two youths who stole a car and escaped Monday morning from Meadow Mountain Youth Center at Grantsville were taken into custody about an hour later in Washington County following a high-speed chase, Maryland State Police said.

The youths, ages 15 and 16, allegedly stole a vehicle owned by a youth camp employee from the parking lot of the Garrett County facility that is operated by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. The escape occurred at 9:55 a.m.

About a half-hour later, state police broadcasted a lookout for the getaway vehicle — a late-model white Pontiac Torrent sport utility vehicle displaying Maryland registration. Within minutes of the broadcast, troopers attempted to stop the suspect vehicle on eastbound Interstate 68 at the Allegany-Washington County line. The youths failed to stop and continued driving eastbound on I-68 to Interstate 70 before troopers used stop sticks to deflate their tires.

The youths exited I-70 at state Route 56 and drove onto a convenience store lot where they got out of the vehicle. The escapees then ran to the 11000 block of Tedrick Drive at Big Pool where they entered an unoccupied residence by breaking a window. The 15-year-old was arrested outside the residence without further incident. The other youth was taken into custody inside the residence after a Washington County deputy used an electronic control device to subdue him.

The 16-year-old was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure after he complained of neck pain. He was expected to be released a short time later, police said.

The 15-year-old was in police custody at the Hagerstown barrack early Monday afternoon. Both youths were expected to be placed back into the custody of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Service later in the day.

No police officers or other motorists on the interstate were injured during the incident, which remains under investigation.

A Maryland State Police medevac helicopter also joined in the pursuit.